A Belleville Police Service constable is being commended for his quick actions in an arrest in September.
A report to the Belleville Police Service board states that police responded to a traffic complaint on Victoria Avenue regarding a cube truck/transport driving erratically on September 21, 2024 around 8:05 p.m.
Several additional calls came in regarding the truck driving at high rates of speed, striking vehicles, driving through residential yards, and striking a house.
Constable Jeff Sarley located the truck while driving a fully marked police cruiser in the area of Farley and Victoria avenues and initiated a road block in front of Eastside Secondary School.
In body camera footage shown at the meeting, the truck could be seen striking the vehicle at a high rate of speed.
Constable Sarley was able to exit the cruiser three seconds before the truck struck the vehicle.
Sarley then immediately initiated an arrest while the driver of the transport truck was still in the driver’s seat.
No injuries were sustained by either police or the suspect.
A 40-year-old Belleville man was arrested at the scene for impaired operation, impaired/over 80, dangerous operation and fail to stop for accident.
“I would like to commend Cst. Sarley for his quick thinking and decisive actions, which led to the successful arrest of the suspect, bringing dangerous actions of the suspect to a halt,” Belleville Police Chief Murray Rodd said in the report.
“Cst. Sarley put the safety of our community at the forefront and his bravery should not go unnoticed. Seconds in the moment can be the difference between life and death.”
